coven

[kuhv-uh n, koh-vuh n]

noun

an assembly of witches, especially a group of thirteen.

Origin of coven

1500–10 for sense “assembly”; 1655–65 for current sense; variant of obsolete covent assembly, religious group, convent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for coven

Contemporary Examples of coven

Kathy Bates was really good on American Horror Story: Coven.
The Biggest Emmys Snubs and Surprises: 'Modern Family,' McConaughey, and More
Kevin Fallon
August 26, 2014
Guggenheim pulled the confirmed bachelor into her coven of beatnik friends.
Casa de la Torre: The Museum of Mexico’s Liberace
Brandon Presser
March 24, 2014
On American Horror Story: Coven, Jessica Lange plays a drunk witch.
The Best TV Shows of 2013: ‘Orange Is the New Black,’ ‘Breaking Bad’ and More
Kevin Fallon
December 13, 2013
Entertainment Weekly Stevie Nicks to guest star on American Horror Story: Coven.
'50 Shades of Grey' Pushed to 2015, ‘Divergent’ Trailer Released
Culture Team
November 13, 2013
But Coven is also groundbreaking in ways, at least at this point in its run, that it may not be receiving credit for.
‘Boy Parts’ Proves ‘American Horror Story: Coven’ Is the Boldest Drama on TV
Kevin Fallon
October 17, 2013

Historical Examples of coven

He nodded, and followed the priest and the worshipers into the main part of the Coven.
The Status Civilization
Robert Sheckley
At the far end of the block he could see the tiny red light of the Coven.
The Status Civilization
Robert Sheckley
But he kept on crawling, and at last he reached the door of the Coven.
The Status Civilization
Robert Sheckley
The Devil sat at the head of the table, and all the Coven about.
The Witch-cult in Western Europe
Margaret Alice Murray
Helen Fraser, of the same “coven,” was a most dangerous witch.
Witch Stories
E. Lynn (Elizabeth Lynn) Linton

British Dictionary definitions for coven

coven

noun

a meeting of witches

a company of 13 witches

Word Origin for coven

C16: probably from Old French covin group, ultimately from Latin convenīre to come together; compare convent

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for coven

"a gathering of witches," 1660s, earlier (c.1500) a variant of covent, cuvent early forms of convent. Association with witches arose in Scotland, but not popularized until Sir Walter Scott used it in this sense in "Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft" (1830).

Efter that tym ther vold meit bot somtymes a Coven, somtymes mor, somtymes les; bot a Grand Meitting vold be about the end of ilk Quarter. Ther is threttein persones in ilk Coeven; and ilk on of vs has an Sprit to wait wpon ws, quhan ve pleas to call wpon him. I remember not all the Spritis names; bot thair is on called "Swein," quhilk waitis wpon the said Margret Wilson in Aulderne; he is still clothed in grass-grein .... ["Criminal Trials in Scotland," III, appendix, p.606, confession of Issobell Gowdie in Lochloy in 1662]